Electric switch



(No Model.)

H. T. CLARK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

1\To.411='7,867. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

HORACE T. CLARK, CF BRIDGEPORRCONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,867, dated March 10, 1891.

Application led January 26, 1891. Serial Na. 379.002. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in electric switches; but more particularly does it appel-tain to that class of instruments known as snap-switches, in which the movement of the circuitbreaker both to make and open the circuit is spring actuated.

The object of my invention is to provide a switch of great simplicity and ease of opera tion, which shall be efficient in action and which shall be inexpensive to manufacture;

and with these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter fully explained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand its construction and method of operation, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the indicating-numerals marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan view of my switch in its closed position with the cover removed and the operating-handle transversely sectioned. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, the circuit shown as closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the switch open.

1 represents the base, of any suitable nonconducting material, having arranged thereon terminals 2, whose construction and arrangement are clearly shown, but which may be varied according to circumstances. The base has a central slot or opening 3, beneath which is secured a hub 4, provided with a central socket 5 and a vertical slot 5% 6 denotes a circuit-closing bar provided upon its ends with suitable contacts 7. lThis bar is open at its center, as seen at Fig. 1, and near each end of the opening therein is a shown at Fig. 2.

transverse pin 8, which is preferably, but not necessarily,A provided with a roller 9.

10 is a guide-standard which bridges the opening in the base. Said standard affords a bearing in which the circuit-closing bar 6 may slide vertically within the limits shown at Figs. 2 and 11 is an operating-handle having a bearing for its lower end in the socket of the hub 4, and having also a sliding bearing in the center of the transverse portion of the standard 10. Upon itsupper end it bears any suitable knob or hand-grasp 12. At its lower end said handle carries a cross-bar 13, which has a bearing in the slot of the hub 4, heretofore referred to, so that while the handle and the parts thereto attached may m )ve vertically they are incapable of rotation.

14 are vertically extended arms whose lower ends are pivotally secured to the crossbar 13. Above this pivotal point each arm is provided with two oblique faces 15 and 16.

17 is a spring which has a seat in a transverse hole in the handle 11, and whose respective ends bear against and exert an outward pressure upon the inner surfaces of the arms 14, which latter are preferably provided with small projections taking into theends of the spring.

In the operation of my invention the position of the circuit-closing bar is changed in the following manner: Suppose the circuitclosing bar to be in its closed position, as At this time t-he lower faces 16 upon the arms are engaged with the transverse pins S, and the outward pressure of the spring tends to hold the contacts against the terminals. To reverse the position of the bar, the handle is forced downward by means of its knob. This downward movement of the handle and of the arms carried thereby causes the latter to be forced inwardly against the action of the spring by means of the oblique faces 16 sliding over the pins. Vhen, however, the angles between the faces 15 16 have passed the center of the pins the outward thrust of the spring in its turn causes the arms to act upon the pins, and the oblique faces thereby to raise the circuit-closing bar with a rapid motion to the position shown at Fig. 3. To again reverse the position of the switch, the operating-handle is pulled upward,

IOO

whereupon the angular faces l5 are acted upon by the pins to compress the spring, and the faces 16 thereafter, through the outward pressure of the spring, throw the bar downward into contact with the terminals. It will of course be readily understood that if desired the arms 14 might be reversed and caused to engage the pins from the outside, in which case the spring would beso arranged as to draw them together instead of pressing them apart; but this would be a mere formal change, and with many others that might be mentioned would involve no departure from the spirit and aim of my invention, which I deem commensurate with the terms of the claims here following.

I claiml. In an electric switch, the combination, with a vertically-movable circuit-closer, of a pair of double-faced actuators, a spring for forcing said actuators apart, a handle for moving them, and means of engagement between their operating-faces and the circuitcloser, substantially as described.

2. In an electric switch, the combination, With a vertically-movable circuit-closer, of the handle, the arms carried thereby and provided with double oblique faces, and a spring arranged between the arms, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric switch, the combination, with the base and suitable terminals, of the circuit-closing bar and guides wherein it may move vertically, a vertically-movable operating-handle,a pair of pivoted arms carried by said handle and each provided with a double oblique face, a spring for the outward actuation of the arms, and pins or projections upon the circuit-closing bar, against which the oblique faces on said arms may act, substantialrly as set forth. Y

4. The combination, with the base, the terminals, and the circuit-closing bar having a central opening and suitable guides, of the vertically-guided and longitudinally-movable operating-handle, and the spring-actuated arms pivoted thereto, each arm provided with a double oblique operating-face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testim ony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE T. CLARK. X'Vitnesses:

SHERMAN HARTWELL IIUBBARD, J. M. OUFORD. 

